The U.S. government has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions “in the range of 17%” below 2005 levels, or the equivalent of a 5.5% cut below 1990 levels. Additionally, president Obama has agreed to attend the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen starting in 10 days time. It is the first time that the U.S. has pledged a specific reduction of GHG emissions. The pledged cuts are far lower than those pledged by many other industrialized nations including the European Union. Separately, China today disclosed it aims to cut its...